Lorne Greene

Lorne Greene

Deceased · Born: Feb 12, 1915 · Died: Sep 11, 1987

Personal Details

BornFeb 12, 1915 Carleton, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Spouse
  • Nancy Deale

    ( Dec 17, 1961 to Sep 11, 1987 )
  • Rita Merle Hands

    ( Sep 3, 1940 to Mar 22, 1961 )
Parents
  • Daniel Greene
  • Dora Slavin
Relatives
  • Emma Raimi (Grandchild)
  • Oliver Raimi (Grandchild)
  • Lorne Raimi (Grandchild)
  • Henry Raimi (Grandchild)
  • Dashiell Raimi (Grandchild)

Biography

Lyon Himan "Chaim" Green, later known as Lorne Greene, was born on February 12, 1915, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This notable figure began his acting career while attending Queen's University in Canada, where he honed his skills and laid the foundation for his future success. Upon graduation, Greene secured a job in radio broadcasting, which ultimately led to his recognition as Canada's top newscaster, thanks to his distinctive, rich, and authoritative voice.

As his fame grew, Greene made the bold decision to leave Canada in the early 1950s to pursue a film career in Hollywood. This strategic move proved to be a wise one, as he soon found himself appearing regularly in television shows, films, and radio broadcasts. His most notable and enduring successes came in two iconic television series: the long-running Western drama Bonanza (1959),in which he played the patriarch of a wealthy frontier family, and the science-fiction series Battlestar Galactica (1978).

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the performing arts and community, Greene was awarded the prestigious title of Officer of the Order of Canada in 1969. This esteemed honor is a testament to his dedication and commitment to his craft.

Tragically, Lorne Greene's life came to an abrupt end on September 11, 1987, at the age of 72, due to complications from pneumonia following heart surgery in Santa Monica, California. Despite his untimely passing, Greene's legacy continues to live on, inspiring new generations of actors, filmmakers, and performers.

Career

1993
Back to Bonanza
Back to Bonanza as Ben Cartwright
1987
1982
Heidi's Song
Heidi's Song as Grandfather (voice)
1981
Code Red
Code Red as Battalion Chief Joe Rorchek
1980
A Time for Miracles
A Time for Miracles as Bishop John Carroll
Klondike Fever
Klondike Fever as Inspector Sam Steele
Galactica 1980
Galactica 1980 as Commander Adama
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street as Ben Cartwright (archive footage) (uncredited)
1978
The Little Brown Burro
The Little Brown Burro as Storyteller (voice)
The Bastard
The Bastard as Bishop Francis
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica as Commander Adama
1977
The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald
The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald as Matthew Arnold Watson
SST: Death Flight
SST: Death Flight as Marshall Cole
1976
1975
Nevada Smith
Nevada Smith as Jonas Cord
Earthquake
Earthquake as Sam Royce
1972
Bonanza
Bonanza as Ben Cartwright
1970
Bonanza: Ride the Wind
Bonanza: Ride the Wind as Ben Cartwright
Bonanza
Bonanza as Ben Cartwright
1959
The Trap
The Trap as Davis
The Hangman
The Hangman as Clem J. Cummings
1958
The Gift of Love
The Gift of Love as Grant Allan
The Last of the Fast Guns
The Last of the Fast Guns as Michael O'Reilly
The Buccaneer
The Buccaneer as Mercier
1957
Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90 as Lowell Williams
Producers' Showcase
Producers' Showcase as Emperor's Aide
The Hard Man
The Hard Man as Rice Martin
Peyton Place
Peyton Place as District Attorney
1956
Autumn Leaves
Autumn Leaves as Mr. Hanson
1955
Tight Spot
Tight Spot as Benjamin Costain
1953
Studio One
Studio One as O'Brien
1945
Gateway to Asia
Gateway to Asia as Narrator (voice)
1942
1941
Churchill's Island
Churchill's Island as Narrator (voice)
1940
The Home Front
The Home Front as Narrator